Jhantu becomes maiden mayor Rangpur

Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Sharfuddin Ahmed Jhantu, backed by the ruling Awami League, has become the maiden mayor of the newly formed Rangpur City Corporation (RCC).

Jhantu, a member of Awami League advisory committee of Rangpur, bagged 1,06,255 votes, while his closest rival Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa, expelled from Jatiya Party, secured 77,805 votes,according to reports.

Earlier on Thursday, the maiden voting in the RCC ended peacefully with a high turnout, which Returning Officer Monirul Islam initially estimated at 80 percent. The number of total voters is 357,742.

None of the candidates raised any allegation of irregularities in the election. Mayoral hopefuls local Awami League leader Jhantu and former Jatiya Party (JP) leader Mostafa expressed their satisfaction over the election.

Tight security was in place, with at least 4,500 members of law enforcement agencies carrying out their duties to maintain law and order.

Buoyed by the success in the RCC election, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad in Dhaka said they would conduct model elections to the split Dhaka city corporations.

It has been possible with support from all, the CEC told newsmen at the Election Commission Secretariat.

Voters of ward-11 cast their votes using the newly introduced electronic voting machines (EVM). A total of 10 candidates contested for the councillor post in the ward.

On June 29, the government upgraded the erstwhile Rangpur Municipality to a city corporation. Twelve people contested for the mayoral post, while 327 vied for 33 councillor posts and 91 women for 11 reserved councillor seats.

BBN/SSR/AD-21Dec12-8:50 am (BST)

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